AAFC no. : 13134E
ISSN : 2561-2875
Catalogue no. : A1-35E-PDF
This report on progress supports the commitment in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) to make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. It also contributes to an integrated, whole‑of‑government view of activities supporting environmental sustainability.
The departmental information reported accounts for information previously prepared in accordance with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
This report details AAFC's individual departmental actions that support the targets and/or goals of the 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). For information on the Government of Canada's overall progress on the targets of the FSDS, please see the latest FSDS Progress Report, which, per the requirements of the strengthened Federal Sustainable Development Act, is released at least once in each three year period.
1. Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, AAFC has developed this report to demonstrate progress in implementing its 2020-2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
2. Sustainable development at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
AAFC's 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy describes the department's actions in support of achieving the following sustainable development goals:
- Greening Government
- Effective Action on Climate Change; and
- Sustainable Food.
This report presents available results for the departmental actions pertinent to these goals. Previous years' reports are posted on the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada's website.
3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following tables provide performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goals listed in section 2.
Context: Greening Government
The federal government is committed to becoming a leader on climate change and has continued taking action to ensure that it is doing its part, while contributing to the broader economy-wide plan. AAFC is a large federal custodian, representing almost 5% of the currently scoped-in federal government greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and is well-positioned to continue making contributions to the Greening Government goal. The Department has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 42.7% from fiscal year 2005-06 to 2021-22, and it will continue to make efforts predominantly through improvements to the energy efficiency of its buildings and operations and the modernization of its fleet. In 2021-22, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the energy consumption at Department facilities, thereby contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions. Other efforts continue in waste diversion and reduction. For example, a 2020-21 pilot project at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre diverted crops to food donation, reducing the amount of food loss and waste.
| FSDS targets | FSDS contributing actions | Corresponding departmental actions | Starting points Performance indicators Targets |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral) | All new buildings and major building retrofits will prioritize low-carbon investments based on integrated design principles, and life-cycle and total-cost-of ownership assessments which incorporate shadow carbon pricing |
Explore options and initiate implementation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Portfolio 2050 Carbon-neutral study. Construct all new federal buildings (including build-to-lease and public-private partnerships), starting at the latest in 2022, to be net-zero carbon unless a lifecycle cost benefit analysis indicates net-zero carbon ready construction, and unless incremental central funding is unavailable for projects with costs exceeding what departments can support within existing reference levels. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
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Percentage (%) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from facilities from fiscal year 2005-06 (baseline) to fiscal year 2021-22 Greenhouse gas emissions from facilities in fiscal year 2021-22 Renewable power emission credits applied in fiscal year 2021-22 |
Actions that reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in greenhouse gases from building operations. Contribution to United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
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| Departments will adopt and deploy clean technologies and implement procedures to manage building operations and take advantage of programs to improve the environmental performance of their buildings |
Deploy clean technologies as part of undertaking building energy efficiency measures, striving to do so on a holistic facility-basis to achieve deeper greenhouse gas reductions, which may include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning building automation optimization retrofit projects for laboratory and office complexes, and building recommissioning. Undertake facility manager energy training sessions, and increase employee awareness of energy conservation practices. |
The deployment of clean technology as part of building energy efficiency projects will raise awareness about clean technology opportunities in the built environment including specialized buildings, and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support more efficient production and consumption.
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| Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced |
Reduce carbon intensity through vehicle purchase and replacement (e.g., electric vehicles, hybrids, more fuel efficient vehicles), including by ensuring that 75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases, and all new executive vehicle purchases, will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet (number of vehicles, class of vehicles) and decarbonize on-road vehicles suitable for conversion from conventional fossil fuel to zero-emission vehicles and hybrids. Promote behavior change (e.g., through anti-idling campaigns, driver training, increased pooling of vehicles, and reducing elective employee travel). Augment infrastructure in support of plug-in electric vehicles. |
Greenhouse gas emissions from fleet in fiscal year 2005-06 (base year) remains the same at Greenhouse gas emissions from fleet in fiscal year 2021-22 Percentage (%) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fleet from fiscal year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2021-22 = 60.7% (2005 – 1,313 vehicles, 2022 – 830 vehicles) Telematics were deployed in 788 vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations at 13 research centres in support of 28 plug-in electric vehicles continue to be maintained Trained 570 employees in Green Defensive Driving Replaced 64 older, less fuel-efficient vehicles with new, more fuel-efficient vehicles |
Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by reducing fuel consumption, by increasing usage of low-carbon transportation solutions, and by replacing conventional fossil-fueled vehicles over their lifetimes with zero-emission vehicles and hybrids. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
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| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills by 2030 | Other |
Track and disclose waste diversion rates by 2022 for applicable Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities. Complete a pilot project at an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research center to optimize the reduction and diversion of waste, and develop lessons learned. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: Based on annualized data from latest waste audits for the four Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities which meet the Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements |
Guidance by the Centre for Greening Government, Treasury Board Secretariat, has clarified that reporting is to start in fiscal year 2022-23 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no waste audits were conducted in 2021-22 A National Waste Green Team was established at AAFC which will incorporate lessons learned from the completed waste diversion optimization pilot. The objective of the team will be to assist with tools, training, waste diversion and waste reduction, with work beginning in 2022-23 The waste contract for one facility was updated to include disposal tracking |
Actions that reduce the generation of non-hazardous operational waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. |
| Divert at least 75% (by weight) of plastic waste from landfills by 2030 | Other |
Track and disclose plastic waste diversion rates by 2022 for applicable Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities. Promote the elimination of unnecessary use of single-use plastics in departmental operations, events and meetings. When procuring products that contain plastics, promote the procurement of sustainable plastic products, and the reduction of associated plastic packaging waste. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: Based on annualized data from latest waste audits for the four Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities which meet the Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements |
Guidance by the Centre for Greening Government, Treasury Board Secretariat, has clarified that reporting is to start in fiscal year 2022-23 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no waste audits were conducted in fiscal year 2021-22 |
Actions that reduce the generation of plastic waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from the landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
| Divert at least 90% (by weight) of all construction and demolition waste from landfills (striving to achieve 100% by 2030) | Other | Track and disclose construction and demolition waste diversion rates by 2022 for applicable custodial infrastructure projects. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Guidance by the Centre for Greening Government, Treasury Board Secretariat, has clarified that reporting is to start in fiscal year 2022-23 |
Actions that reduce the generation of construction and demolition waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport, and disposal of material. Diverting waste from the landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
| Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 | Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced |
Ensure that 75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Ensure that all new executive vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
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Out of 48 total administrative fleet purchases, 27 were hybrids, 2 were plug-in electric vehicles, and 16 were conventional fueled pick-up trucks due to lack of available zero-emission or hybrid vehicles in the pick-up truck category that met operational needs In 2021-22, 4% of the overall administrative fleet were zero-emission In 2021-22, 100% of the annual executive vehicle purchases were zero-emission or hybrid (1 executive vehicle) |
Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by reducing fuel consumption, by increasing usage of low-carbon transportation solutions, and by replacing conventional fossil-fueled vehicles over their lifetimes with zero-emission vehicles and hybrids. |
| By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations | Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned |
Take action to understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect departmental custodial assets and operations. Develop measures to mitigate climate change risks to departmental custodial assets and operations. Use climate change adaptation planning to inform long-term investment planning. |
Performance indicators and targets:
Starting points: |
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) leads the development of the central terms of reference and consultant standing offers for departments to assess their unique climate change risk. Due to delays in contracting with PSPC's climate change risk assessment service, results for targets 1 and 2 were pushed back one year AAFC completed a Portfolio Level Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for its most critical custodial fixed assets Target 3 to be completed in 2023, since Treasury Board Secretariat has granted a one year extension of the submission date for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's next Five Year Investment Plan |
Factoring climate variability and change into operations is an important way the government can adapt to a changing climate. It is also consistent with the government's risk management approach of enhancing the protection of public assets and resources, and strengthening planning and decision-making. SDG 13 – Climate Action |
| By 2021, adopt climate-resilient building codes being developed by National Research Council Canada | Integrate climate change adaptation into the design and construction of all major real property projects in conformance with applicable building codes. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Results are not available for 2021-22 National Research Council of Canada released the newest editions of the Building, Plumbing, Fire and Energy codes in March 2022. As this was the end of the 2021-22 reporting year, AAFC was not able to adopt the updated codes for project design work at the beginning of the fiscal year |
Early adoption of the codes in the construction of buildings demonstrates federal leadership in climate resilient buildings. SDG 13 – Climate Action |
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| Use 100% clean electricity by 2025 | Other |
Participate and support the Clean Electricity Procurement Initiative led by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of federal departments and agencies. Continue to procure 35% green electricity from renewable energy sources for Alberta facilities until at least December 2021. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Percentage of clean electricity in fiscal year 2020-21 provided by Treasury Board Secretariat (based on most recently available data) PSPC continue to negotiate contracts for clean electricity and AAFC will participate as appropriate As part of an Alberta bulk electricity contract led by PSPC, AAFC purchased 63% green electricity from renewable energy sources at its Alberta facilities in 2021-22 |
The use of clean electricity eliminates greenhouse gas emissions in jurisdictions with emitting generation sources.
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Actions supporting the goal: Greening Government |
Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions |
Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls. Promote and leverage common use procurement instruments and tools that incorporate environmental considerations where available and feasible. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
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In 2021-22, 89% of procurement files for all commodities reviewed by the Procurement Review Board (PRB) included environmental considerations (195 of 219 files) In 2021-22, 93% of procurements valued over $2 million included environmental considerations (14 of 15 files) |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
| Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for the Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance evaluations. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
In 2021-22, 100% (2) of functional heads (Director General and Director) of procurement and material had performance evaluations that include support and/or contribution towards green procurement | Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. | |
| Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions | Maintain level of greenhouse gas emissions from departmental business-related travel (scoped to air travel only) to at least a 35% reduction until 2020-21 relative to 2005-06. |
Performance indicator: Starting points: Target: |
In 2021-22, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 99% reduction in business travel emissions was maintained, relative to the 2005-06 fiscal year |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production Target 12.7 |
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| Departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects |
Explore opportunities to participate in the Innovation Solutions Canada Testing Stream. Develop operational innovation proposals for the Greening Government Fund. |
Performance indicators and targets:
Starting points: |
In the latest GGF round, AAFC submitted 6 GGF project proposals, of which 3 were chosen to advance to the second stage |
Incent, support, or procure state-of-the-art innovative clean technologies that lower the environmental footprint of government operations while contributing to the success of clean-tech businesses in Canada.
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| Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees | Ensure decisions makers, material management and specialists in procurement have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
In 2021-22, 78% of the Department's 49 specialists in procurement (employees classified in the Purchasing and Supply group (PG) positions) had been trained in green procurement as of March 31, 2022 |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production |
Context: Effective Action on Climate Change
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Tackling climate change is important for our environment and for our economy. Canadian farmers and ranchers are responsible stewards of the land, and they continue to be part of the climate change solution. Through improved management practices, land-use decisions, and the provision of raw materials for biofuels and bioproducts, the agriculture sector has the potential to further support Canada's greenhouse gas reduction commitments. Additional measures introduced through the Government of Canada Strengthened Climate Plan and Emissions Reduction Plan, as well as in Budgets 2021 and 2022, including those increasing the development and adoption of clean technology, supporting the development and implementation of natural climate solutions on-farm, and reducing emissions from fertilizer application, will also support the sector's efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. These activities would be reflected in the Department's next Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
AAFC is committed to funding and conducting targeted research to increase knowledge of climate change relative to agriculture. Prioritizing research funding on GHG emissions will accelerate the sector's ability to reduce the most significant greenhouse gases emitted by agriculture, such as methane, primarily from cattle, and nitrous oxide, primarily from fertilizer application. Building AAFC's discovery science capacity will also allow the Department to respond to agri-environmental challenges related to climate change adaptation.
The Department undertakes innovative research and development activities that contribute to the sustainable growth of the sector with climate change considerations in mind, including supporting increasing resource and input-use efficiency (for example: land, water, and nutrients); and developing beneficial management practices and precision agriculture technologies (for example: variable rate irrigation and robotic feeding systems). Department-led innovation and programming also play a significant role in enhancing the agriculture and agri-food sector's resilience to changing climatic conditions, such as increased risks from pests, drought, and flooding, and in better addressing water and soil conservation and development issues.
| FSDS targets | FSDS contributing actions | Corresponding departmental actions | Starting points Performance indicators Targets |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By 2030, reduce Canada's total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels | Develop a solid base of scientific research and analysis on climate change | Continue to fund the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program until March 31, 2021 which supports projects that conduct research and increase knowledge on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in four key priority areas: livestock systems; cropping systems; agricultural water use efficiency; and agroforestry. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program ended on March 31, 2021. A cumulative total of 138 peer reviewed publications were published over the course of the Program |
Research under this program will support an increased understanding and knowledge of the chemical, physical, and biological processes that lead to greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems into surface water, ground water, and the atmosphere. Developing a solid research base creates the foundation for Canada's agricultural sector to contribute to an overall reduction in Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Conduct targeted research to increase knowledge of climate change relative to agriculture. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
As of March 31, 2022, 2417 additional articles had been accepted for publication under the current Canadian Agriculture Partnership policy framework (2018-2023) |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's scientific research addresses key challenges and opportunities facing agricultural production, and informs the development of departmental and broader government policies regarding adaptation to climate risk. The development of climate change research increases knowledge by the scientific community in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Support businesses and Canadians in taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions | Work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector to encourage all aspects of the sector to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and beneficial management practices at farm and regional levels, with the central focus of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
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(Provincial and territorial reporting data is 1 year behind.) |
Programming under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership aims to increase the awareness and knowledge of beneficial management practices and climate change. It also aims to increase the adoption of practices and technologies to improve environmental performance, adapt to climate change, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. Sustainable Development Goals:
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Other actions supporting the goal: Effective Action on Climate Change This section is for departmental actions that support the Effective Action on Climate Change goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Other | Continue to implement the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program which promotes environmentally responsible agriculture and supports the development of approaches and tools that assist the agriculture sector in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program developed and demonstrated a total of 28 new technologies and beneficial management practices to farmers over the duration of the program from 2017 to 2021 This result falls short of the target of 50 that was set for the program. Many of the demonstration events that had been planned for the final year of the program were not able to take place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic |
The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program supports projects that will create technologies, practices, and processes that can be adopted by farmers to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. These projects will also help farmers increase their understanding of how greenhouse gas emissions are connected to farming practices. By making such information, practices and technologies available to farmers, the program will ultimately contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and other positive longer-term environmental impacts for Canada. In turn, this will support the Government of Canada's commitments to the environment and to climate change. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Other |
Develop a departmental climate action plan that outlines measures to mitigate climate change risks to department operations and programs, as a follow-up to the departmental climate change risk assessment completed in 2019. The action plan will address the following priority actions:
Enhance staff communication related to departmental climate risks. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Progress has been made on the four priority actions defined in AAFC's 2019 Climate Change Risk Assessment and a completed Climate Action Plan will be developed by the end of fiscal year 2022-23 |
Understanding climate change risks to departmental operations and programs will allow adaptation measures to be planned and implemented effectively. This will entail increased training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions for public service employees, and facilitating the sharing of best practices and lessons learned. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 13: Climate action |
Context: Sustainable Food
Canada's food system helps to provide safe and healthy food and ensure long-term food security both domestically and internationally. Strengthening the agriculture and agri-food sector includes finding innovative ways to respond and adapt to new and emerging issues, and seizing new value-added market opportunities to ensure sustainable growth. Work on sustainable agricultural production also includes tracking progress on environmental sustainability, scientific research projects, and programs designed to transfer scientific knowledge, practices, and processes to agricultural producers. AAFC promotes innovation and sustainable practices by assessing and reporting on the performance of the agriculture sector; conducting targeted research related to the impact of agriculture on climate change, soils, biodiversity and water; and, providing cost-shared funding to provinces and territories to support on-farm assessment of environmental risks and adoption of effective mitigation measures.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership includes actions that support this goal. One priority area of the Partnership highlights environmental sustainability and climate change, focusing on building sector capacity to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment and adapt to climate change while increasing production. As an example under the AgriInnovate Program, the Department provided funding to support the development of an innovative platform that provides recommendations on field-level spray up to seven days in advance. This helps to better control diseases and insects in crops, improve food production sustainability and increase yield.
In 2019-20, AAFC launched the Food Policy for Canada, which has a vision that, "all people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. Canada's food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment and supports our economy." The 2020 to 2023 DSDS for AAFC sets out specific targets in relation to the implementation of the Food Policy, including delivery of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) and the launch of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge (FWRC). In 2020-21, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, additional performance indicators and targets were added under the LFIF and Surplus Food Rescue Program to reflect the specific objectives of funding announced for emergency food programming. In 2021-22, the FWRC awarded funding to semi-finalists and led events with food waste reduction innovators. In addition, a third round of funding for the Emergency Food Security Fund (EFSF) was allocated to underrepresented groups and consultations were held to redesign the last phase of the LFIF.
Increasing global demand for agricultural products offers opportunity for export growth for the Canadian agriculture, agri-food and seafood sector and overall economic growth; however, trade opportunities are also significantly impacted by domestic interests of key trading partners, such as the environment and sustainable food production. Aligned with broader government objectives to increase and diversify Canadian exports, the Department continued to assist the sector to mitigate risks to trade disruption, assist businesses to take advantage of opportunities, and advocate for a predictable and stable trade environment built on science-based policies, regulations and international rules. This is aligned with broader government objectives to increase and diversify Canadian exports and to grow Canada's agri-food exports. In addition, new Sector Engagement Tables including one on Sustainability, facilitate strategic industry-government collaboration on key priorities and issues facing the sector such as the environment.
| FSDS targets | FSDS contributing actions | Corresponding departmental actions | Starting points Performance indicators Targets |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target |
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Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food This section is for actions that support the Sustainable Food goal but do not directly support a FSDS target |
Make healthier food choices easier | Deliver the Local Food Infrastructure Fund which supports local food projects, such as those at food banks and community gardens across Canada, to provide at-risk populations, such as the less privileged and isolated communities, with improved access to healthy foods through investments in infrastructure. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
In 2021-22, 158 small-scale and 151 large-scale infrastructure investments were made Cumulative result: As of March 31, 2022, a total of 813 infrastructure investments have been made. Of these, 608 have been small-scale and 205 have been large-scale |
As organizations make increased investments in local food infrastructure, their capacity to provide healthy and nutritious food to the most vulnerable populations will increase. This increase in capacity will lead to an increased availability of healthy and nutritious food within these communities across Canada. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero hunger |
| Make healthier food choices easier | Deliver the Emergency Food Security Fund which provides funding to Canadian food banks and other national food rescue organizations to help improve access to food for people experiencing food insecurity in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
In 2021-22, 558 projects led to local food organizations receiving food or funding Cumulative result: As of March 31, 2022, a total of 6,302 projects have been funded Note that some recipients received funding through more than one project, especially between the various rounds of Emergency Food Security funding, so the number of projects does not indicate the number of unique local food organizations that received food or funding |
The funding will be used to purchase and distribute food and to hire workers where volunteers are unavailable and buy personal protective equipment to help keep workers, volunteers, and visitors at food banks and local food organizations safe. This increase in funding will lead to an increased availability of healthy and nutritious food available during the pandemic. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero hunger |
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| Make healthier food choices easier | Deliver the Surplus Food Rescue Program which aims to move surplus food commodities, caused by COVID-19's significant disruption to the Canadian food system, to food banks and other food security organizations in communities across Canada. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
Under this initiative, which ended on December 31, 2021, 7.18 million kg of excess food and over 1 million dozen eggs, totaling $41.87 million (including processing costs), have been rescued |
The program provides assistance to organizations serving vulnerable populations to acquire and process surplus commodities and food that would otherwise be lost or destroyed and distribute them to populations in need.
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| Other | Develop and launch the Food Waste Reduction Challenge which will accelerate the implementation of innovative and concrete actions to reduce food waste in Canada. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
The target was met as streams A and B of the challenge were issued by December 31, 2020. These streams focus on solutions that provide an innovative way of doing business to reduce food waste across any or multiple stages of the food supply chain On May 25, 2021, streams C and D of the challenge were issued. These streams focus on novel technologies that extend the life of food or transform food waste into value-added products |
Issuing challenges will attract new ideas and resources for solving the complex problems of food waste in Canada. New collaborations among non-traditional partners and problem solvers will be developed, which will build capacity and facilitate the development of new innovations that help advance sustainability efforts by reducing and preventing food waste across the Canadian food supply chain. This will decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase food availability. Not only will a winning innovative solution be identified, but each challenge will result in attracting multiple innovations that will help reduce food waste in Canada. Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production |
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| Increase knowledge supporting sustainable agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture | Conduct research to increase knowledge on the environmental effects of agriculture, including ways the sector can help protect the environment. |
Performance indicator: Starting point:
Targets:
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As of March 31, 2022
were accepted for publication through an external peer-reviewed process under the current Canadian Agriculture Partnership policy framework (2018-2023) |
Scientific research undertaken by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with federal, provincial, and non-government organization partners, serves to make agricultural production more sustainable as scientific knowledge leads to the development of practices and processes that can be adopted in Canada. Conducting research thus contributes to the overall stability of agricultural working landscapes and their ability to sustain a high level of agricultural production by Canadian farmers. Peer-reviewed publications can be viewed at Agricultural Research Results. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Other | Establish fora to facilitate strategic industry-government collaboration on key environmental issues facing the sector, such as a Sustainability Table. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
In 2021-22, 5 virtual meetings (replacing in-person meetings) of the Sustainability Table took place, including the inaugural meeting on December 10, 2020 |
These collaborative fora will support the long-term resilience and sustainability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector through engagement with members from the food value chain, including to inform departmental policies and programs that promote and support sustainable agriculture practices and agri-food products. Sustainable Development Goals:
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By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agricultural sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher for the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability (reflecting the quality of the water, soil, air and biodiversity) |
Other | Assess and report on the collective environmental impact of the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices by farmers on the Canadian landscape. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: Data from specific indicator models will be available for industry and provinces to assess sustainability levels every year by 2023. Analysis of trends for indicator models will be available every two years beginning in 2023 |
As of March 31, 2022 the index score was 68 based on the 2016 Census |
Regular reporting on the environmental sustainability of Canadian agriculture provides an indication of the overall stability of the agricultural working environment, which assesses nutrient management, as well as the quality of water, soil, air, and biodiversity. Monitoring the agriculture sector's environmental sustainability helps federal, provincial, and non-government partners to assess whether their policies are effective in helping the sector take actions to minimize environmental risks, and use inputs efficiently. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Track the value of agriculture and agri-food exports to measure the sector's contribution to Canada's economic growth. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
In 2021-22, the value of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports was $82.2 billion |
Tracking the value of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports will help assess the sector's ability to compete in the global marketplace and to efficiently respond to consumer and market trends for sustainable food. The Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector will be more innovative, resilient, competitive, and environmentally sustainable to help maintain access to existing markets and open new markets, creating opportunities for economic growth. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Accelerate the demonstration, commercialization, and/or adoption of innovative agri-based products, technologies, processes, or services that increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector, by continuing to fund the AgriInnovate Program. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
As of 2021-22, the dollar value of annual export revenues of participating firms had increased by 130%, with 8 of the 29 projects reporting preliminary results |
This program is intended to address the financing gap present between moving agricultural, agri-food and agri-based research to commercialization, and to assist industry in mitigating the risk inherent in scaling-up products, processes, services, and technologies. This program supports agricultural, agri-food, and agri-based businesses in being innovative and sustainable, and strengthens their ability to compete in the global economy. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to promote innovation through the generation and commercialization of new technologies. |
Performance indicators:
Starting points:
Targets:
The five-year target for the number of new technologies attaining IP protection was surpassed in the first year of reporting. |
As of March 31, 2021:
(Provincial and territorial reporting data is 1 year behind) |
Collective action by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and its federal, provincial, territorial, and non-government organization partners contributes to the overall stability of agricultural working environments and their ability to sustain a high level of agricultural production. This includes by providing programming support that promotes innovation through the generation and commercialization of new agriculture and agri-food technologies. Sustainable Development Goals:
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| Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025 | Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets | Provide programming support to the provinces and territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to promote innovation by bringing awareness to new market opportunities through the development and dissemination of market intelligence. |
Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: |
As of March 31, 2021, 2,026 market information and intelligence products had been created, updated, or disseminated (Provincial and territorial reporting data is 1 year behind) |
Generic and customized information and intelligence supports the sector in assessing market opportunities. Capitalizing on market opportunities, including high-value market opportunities, is not only innovative but necessary in expanding the domestic and international market presence of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector, and in securing Canada's position as a preferred agri-food supplier. Sustainable Development Goals:
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The 2011 data was recalculated in 2022 due to improvements in methodology and this resulted in the starting point value changing from 65 to 68. Moving forward, reporting will include the percentage changes of the 4 indices that make up the index to provide more information on the score |
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4. Report on integrating sustainable development
Achieving a sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector is a process of continuous improvement in the responsible use and management of agricultural resources along all points of the value chain, including producers, processors, and retailers. Sustainable agriculture contributes to sector profitability by safeguarding the land's productive capacity now and into the future, and by reducing operating costs through increased efficiencies. It also helps to maintain access to existing markets or open new markets, creating opportunities for growth. These outcomes are integral to the sustainability and competitiveness of the Canadian agriculture sector and support its important contribution to Canada's economy.
AAFC invests in a more sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector by supporting innovation and on-farm action. This includes, for example, supporting the completion of on-farm environmental risk assessments and providing incentives to producers for the implementation of beneficial management practices. Since jurisdiction over agriculture in Canada is shared with provincial and territorial governments, on-farm programs are based on partnerships, cost-shared between both orders of government, and delivered by provincial or territorial agencies.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), launched on April 1, 2018, is a 5 year, $3-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to help the agriculture and agri-food sector ensure continued innovation and growth, as well as address priority environmental issues related to water, soil, air, biodiversity, and climate change. Under the Partnership, up to $436 million is available for cost-shared programs between federal and provincial/territorial governments that are designed to raise producers' awareness of environmental risks, and accelerate the adoption of on-farm technologies and practices to reduce these risks, including through improved manure management and storage, precision farming practices for fertilizer use and nutrient management plans, among others. In addition to the Partnership, the Department funds ongoing environment-focused science projects through the Department's Science and Technology Branch – all of which have contributed to improvements in the sector's environmental performance.
As part of the Government's Strengthened Climate Plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, the Government of Canada is also investing more than $4 billion over the next 10 years to establish a Natural Climate Solutions Fund and to support activities to build a more resilient economy and a healthier, greener future. The Agricultural Climate Solutions Program, announced in March 2021 under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund is a two-streamed program that helps develop and implement better farming practices so farmland can increase the amount of stored carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Living Laboratories stream is a $185 million, 10-year program that is establishing a Canada-wide network of living laboratories, which are regional collaborations between farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders to develop and disseminate beneficial management practices that sequester carbon and provide other environmental co-benefits in agricultural landscapes.
The On-Farm Climate Action Fund stream is a $200 million, 3-year fund that supports farmers to accelerate emission reductions by improving nitrogen management, increasing adoption of cover cropping, and normalizing rotational grazing.
Under the Strengthened Climate Plan, the Government is also investing $165.7 million over 7 years in an enhanced Agricultural Clean Technology Program (ACT). The ACT is supporting the agriculture industry in developing transformative clean technologies, and is helping farmers adopt commercially available clean technology. Within this program, $50 million is focused on grain-drying technologies and $10 million will focus on powering farms with clean energy.
Canada has also established a national emission reduction target for fertilizers, with the aim of reducing emissions of nitrous oxide to 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. The Government is working with fertilizer manufacturers, farmers, provinces and territories, to develop an approach to meet this new target.
AAFC also conducts and supports research and development activities that contribute to the sustainable growth of the sector. This includes, for example, improving resource and input use efficiency (land, water, and nutrients) by developing beneficial management practices and precision agriculture technologies (variable rate irrigation or robotic feeding systems). Department-led innovation and programming plays a significant role in addressing water, soil conservation, and biodiversity issues, and in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of the sector. Some investments contribute to broader clean growth objectives by providing solutions to other sectors for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; for example, using agricultural biomass to produce electricity or fuels.
AAFC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) goals and targets through its strategic environmental assessment process.
During the 2021-22 reporting cycle, AAFC considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. The Department systematically applies strategic environmental assessment to proposals submitted to the Minister or Cabinet for approval that may result in important environmental effects, either positive or negative.
The process generally comprises 3 steps, applied progressively as warranted, as follows:
- Initial review – a review to determine whether there is any potential for environmental effects associated with the proposal or whether a previously conducted assessment still applies
- Preliminary scan – an assessment to determine whether important environmental effects, either positive or negative, would result from the implementation of the proposal; and
- Detailed strategic environmental assessment – a more detailed analysis of environmental effects, including mitigation measures that could reduce or eliminate potential adverse effects or enhance potential environmental benefits
Preliminary scans and detailed strategic environmental assessments for policy, plan, or program proposals include an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on the FSDS goals and targets. Public statements on the results of AAFC's assessments are made public when an initiative that has undergone a detailed SEA. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects of the approved policy, plan, or program, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, have been appropriately considered during proposal development and decision making.
During 2021-22, AAFC achieved its strategic environmental assessment commitments, including by:
- Continuing to maintain a database to track and facilitate reporting on strategic environmental assessments.
- Evaluating the impacts of proposals submitted to the Minister or Cabinet, on the FSDS goals and targets. The Department's proposals can have direct and indirect linkages to a broad range of goals and targets under the FSDS. For example, programming that promotes innovation and encourages adoption of sustainable agricultural practices at a farm or landscape level, contributes to the Sustainable Food goal of the FSDS. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are also considered where applicable.
Out of the 31 initial reviews completed, 21 proposals either had no associated environmental effects, or were considered a special case under the Cabinet Directive, in that they had been previously assessed; 9 proposals required a preliminary scan level assessment, and 1 proposal warranted the completion of a detailed strategic environmental assessment.